Esin Serin

Esin is a Policy Fellow working on UK energy and climate policy with a particular focus on sustainable growth, economic opportunities of net zero and decarbonisation of hard-to-abate sectors. Esin works in collaboration with the LSE’s Centre for Economic Performance (CEP), and is a Policy Associate of the Programme on Innovation and Diffusion (POID) and an Associate of the Productive and Inclusive Net Zero (PRINZ) Research Project.
Background
Prior to joining the Grantham Research Institute, Esin spent over two years at the Energy Institute as an Energy Analyst to produce timely insights for a range of audiences across the energy system in the UK and around the world. Esin holds a MSc in Sustainable Energy Futures, with distinction, from Imperial College London where she carried out extensive research on policies for promoting bioenergy in UK agriculture, and a BSc in Management Science from University College London.
Research interests
- Sustainable growth
- UK supply chain opportunities from clean technologies
- Decarbonisation pathways for the UK energy system
- Industrial decarbonisation and carbon capture usage and storage (CCUS)
Research
Research - 2022
The authors of this paper consider the distributional incidence and magnitude on household income deciles if the costs for deploying and operating BECCS and DACCS are placed on different sectors of the economy via a range of viable policy funding options. Read more

Policy
Policy - 2025
Submission to the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee inquiry on industrial strategy for clean power. Read more

Policy - 2024
A joint submission by CETEx and the Grantham Research Institute to the UK Government's Industrial Strategy consultation. Read more

This paper presents new evidence to inform industrial strategy prioritisation of clean energy technologies in the UK. Read more

This is a response to an open consultation on proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system. Read more

This briefing, produced with the Centre for Economic Performance (CEP), highlights that rapid growth in renewables means more than 40% of the UK’s electricity is now generated this way. The briefing goes on to explain that reaching net zero by 2050 will require a massive uptake of electric vehicles, heat pumps and efficiency upgrades in homes alongside an even faster rapid scale-up of clean power. Read more

This year’s General Election in the UK takes place against a backdrop of worsening climate change impacts at home and... Read more

This report aims to inform government criteria for assessing UK ETS expansion to cover the domestic heating and road transport sectors, including practicality, suitability and distributional impacts across different income groups. Read more

This report sets out the need for long-lasting institutional and policy frameworks that can induce investment in a broad range of assets in the UK to drive the transition to a sustainable, inclusive and resilient economy. Read more

Policy - 2023
This report examines the potential contribution of tidal stream energy to sustainable growth in the UK to assess whether this constitutes a strategic priority. Read more

Policy - 2022
Response to the call for evidence made as part of the Independent Review of Net Zero commissioned by the UK's Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. Read more

This report consists of a submission to a UK government consultation on designing business models for greenhouse gas removal technologies. Read more

This report explores if there is a case for the wider use of experimental methods, and randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in particular, as a source of evidence to inform green innovation policy development in the UK, with lessons applicable in other countries. Read more

Greenhouse gas removal technologies will play an important role in the UK's net zero pathway, but it is unclear how they can be funded fairly. We assess four policy options and compare how the costs will fall to UK households. Read more

This report examines how-well placed the UK is to make the required investments for a successful net-zero transition, and the wider economic impact those investments might have. Read more

This report provides insights to inform the UK Government’s review on expansion of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme, focusing on three sectors that might fall within the scope of future policy changes. Read more

Policy - 2021
CCUS is necessary for the UK to reach its net-zero goals. This report assesses economic and potential employment opportunities and implications for the skills needed, as well as transferable strengths and capabilities from other sectors and barriers and enablers for CCUS growth in the UK. Read more

The UK's net-zero commitment assumes the use of greenhouse gas removal (GGR) technologies, but there is little understanding of how they might be funded and who will bear the cost. This study prepared for the National Infrastructure Commission analyses how the distribution of costs for funding these technologies impacts society across income deciles. Read more

This submission was made by the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment and the ESRC Centre for... Read more

News
News - 2025
This article written by Esin Serin ahead of the UK Chancellor’s 2025 Spring Statement and upcoming Spending Review makes the case for investing in the clean transition as part of the government’s effort to boost economic growth. Read more

This article reports on reaction to the UK government's plan to move ahead with two carbon capture and storage projects. Read more

News - 2024
The Government’s confirmation of up to £22bn of funding over 25 years to enable the UK’s first carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects is a welcome step but more nuance is needed in CCS policy, argue Esin Serin and Emily Bradeen in this commentary. Read more

Ahead of the first Budget under the new Labour government Esin Serin outlines the case for greater investment in green... Read more

Esin Serin and Pia Andres set out evidence on the UK’s sectoral and technological strengths to assist policymakers as they consider how to allocate support across the economy in a way that maximises green growth opportunities. Read more

Daisy Jameson and Esin Serin discuss the impact of the significant spending cuts announced by Rachel Reeves in her first major speech as Chancellor on the UK’s clean transition and the necessary considerations for driving much-needed progress in this challenging fiscal environment. Read more

This article reports on the decision by the UK government to increase the budget for the current year’s renewable energy auction. Read more

Dimitri Zenghelis and Esin Serin assert that the UK’s next parliament risks perpetuating relative stagnation if it fails to embrace the challenge of creating a clean, green economy. Read more

This article reports on a study by the Grantham Research Institute at LSE which explores the potential for extending the UK’s Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) to heating and transport fuels. The article includes quotes from report co-author Josh Burke. Read more

With domestic heating and road transport fuels being two of the highest sources of carbon emissions in the UK, they are ideal candidates for any plans to expand the Emissions Trading Scheme - but how would this impact the economy and consumers, ask Esin Serin and Danial Sturge. Read more

The news article features responses from economists and industry experts to the UK’s Spring 2024 Budget. The article includes a... Read more

The Spring Budget marks another missed opportunity to make progress on boosting living standards and increasing investment in a sustainable and resilient future for the UK, write Esin Serin, Anna Valero and Dimitri Zenghelis. Read more

This news article reports on a new study which suggests there has been a significant growth in green businesses and... Read more

This opinion piece reflects on the debate within the UK Labour Party over its green investment plans. The article references... Read more

This article discusses a new report by leading economists, including Lord Stern, which calls for the UK to make major... Read more

This article reports of criticism of the UK Prime Minister’s plans to expand oil and gas exploration in the North... Read more

This article considers how well the UK is doing in the transition to green energy. The article includes quotes from... Read more

News - 2023
This article features responses from leading climate policy experts and ESG leaders to the UK government's Autumn Statement. The article includes quotes from Esin Serin. Read more

Ahead of the Autumn Statement, Anna Valero, Esin Serin and Brendan Curran argue that effective measures to promote greener growth will be essential to ensuring that the UK does not fall behind other countries when it comes to incentivising investment that is good for society and the environment as well as the economy. Read more

Esin Serin and Anna Valero explain why further weakening of climate policy in the UK's King's Speech endangers global efforts to keep the 1.5°C target alive and lacks environmental, economic and political logic. Read more

This article considers the likely impact of the decision by the UK government to delay the phase out of petrol... Read more

This article considers the UK governments rollback of some of its climate policies. The article includes quotes from Esin Serin... Read more

Responding to the British Prime Minister’s net zero speech on Wednesday 20 September, Esin Serin highlights the contradictions in the announcements and what the U-turn means for business, consumers and the UK’s net zero pathway. Read more

The UK Government has watered down its commitments to net zero, breaking the cross-party consensus on the need for Britain to lead in the global battle against climate change. This commentary argues that now is the time to double down on policy action before it is too late. Read more

ESG Investor, 13 September 2023 Read more

Esin Serin argues that the Government’s approach to CCUS development needs an urgent rethink if the UK is to meet its net zero targets. Read more

Sifted, 07 September 2023 Read more

i, 31 July 2023 Read more

Esin Serin speaks about tidal power in this episode of the BBC Radio 4 programme More or Less: Behind the Stats which includes a fact check on figures that have featured in the news about tidal power capacity in Scotland. Read more

The National covered the report Seizing sustainable growth opportunities from tidal stream energy in the UK. The National, 22 June... Read more

The Crown Estate’s ocean assets allowing the royal family to cash in on the booming blue economy. Esin Serin is... Read more

The UK Government has published further details about its strategy for decarbonising the economy. But, as Esin Serin and Bob... Read more

This article looks into CCUS. The article includes quotes from Esin Serin. ESG Investor 29 March 2023 Read more

The 2023 Spring Budget was a key moment for the UK Government to make progress providing the building blocks for a productive, sustainable and resilient future. Esin Serin and Anna Valero ask: to what extent has the budget taken us in the right direction? Read more

News - 2022
Randomised controlled trials are a proven tool for understanding the causal effects of policies. Esin Serin asks whether they can play an increased role in informing the development of effective green innovation policies in the UK at this critical time for climate action. Read more

Elizabeth Robinson and Esin Serin consider how far we should be relying on technological fixes in the mission to reach net zero. Read more

This article discusses who should pay for carbon removal technologies such as CCUS, DAC, and BECCS. Newly published research co-authored... Read more

Advanced nuclear technologies, modular manufacturing methods and new approaches to project finance could usher in a more cost-effective era for the UK's nuclear industry, writes Esin Serin. Read more

This article reports on a new study by the Resolution Foundation and the London School of Economics (LSE) which considers the potential for green investment in the UK. Read more

News - 2021
This article reports on the UK government's support for carbon capture utilisation and storage (CCUS) as part of the effort to achieve its net zero target. The article includes a quotes from Esin Serin. Read more

Almost a year on from its interim report, the Treasury last month published its Net Zero Review. In the intervening months, how much has the Treasury’s thinking developed on how to deliver a just transition to net-zero in the UK while capturing growth opportunities, asks Esin Serin. Read more

In this opinion piece for 'Public Finance' magazine Esin Serin outlines how carbon taxes can be designed in a way that doesn't hurt the poorest. Read more

The UK government has delivered on its promise to publish a strategy for driving the country’s economy towards net-zero emissions by 2050. Esin Serin and Anna Valero write that the economy-wide Net Zero Strategy provides further proof of the UK’s ambition to lead on global climate action as it calls on other countries to follow suit. Read more

In this article Esin Serin discusses the importance of investing in technology and infrastructure to facilitate the workforce transition to net zero. Read more

Esin Serin is one of the panelists on this episode of BBC Radio 4 programme The Bottom Line during which guests discuss whether carbon capture save the planet - and make money. Read more

The Government should firmly embed CCUS within its Net Zero Strategy, to boost jobs in the UK’s regions and demonstrate its commitment ahead of COP26 to stopping climate change, says Esin Serin. Read more

Carbon pricing should be part of nothing less than a significant and broad package of post-COVID fiscal reforms, say Esin Serin and Josh Burke, as they outline what these reforms should look like. Read more

This is the moment for the Government to take every opportunity to lead by example in the drive to cut emissions in a fair and equitable way, says Esin Serin, as she evaluates the Treasury’s recently published Net Zero Review interim report. Read more
